japan: part one, tokyo (1)

For those of you who don't know, I had the amazing opportunity to go and visit two of my very favorite people in the world. And they just happen to be living in Japan for a year teaching english. 

After getting off an 11 hour flight, I got to see this beautiful face waiting for me at the Narita airport near Tokyo. Yay, Kathryn!

My first view of Tokyo.

Seeing my first Shrine.

 

So many people drive Mopeds or ride bicycles.

Shibuya crossing!!

My first meal in Japan. It's a traditional Japanese meal, and I used chopsticks for everything!

Ryan eating some dessert type thing at Mos Burger.

This first day, well I guess half day, is still kind of a blur. By the end of the day I had been awake for about 27 hours! I was fading and getting loopy at Mos Burger, which was quite entertaining for Kathryn and Ryan I'm sure. 

JAPAN!

It's less than a week until I leave for Japan. I cannot wait! In preparation for my trip, my friend Katie and I went to get Japanese food on Saturday night. We went to this little hole in the wall place in down town LA and got Ramen. It was very tasty and I am so excited to try more stuff when I get there!!!

This is pretty much what my bowl looked like, just replace the piece of an egg with a whole one. And I'm pretty sure my bowl was way bigger! Yum, so good! Thank you Katie Bray :)

the mourning process

I have come to the realization that to truly be able to mourn, is something I have no idea how to do. At least, not very well. I started to become aware of this when my friend Peder died this past spring. (But I mean, how do you ever learn to come to terms with death like that, when it's just so unfair?) But I still find it difficult in the things that seem a lot smaller and less final than death. I know those things are just as significant and just as necessary for me to mourn. Otherwise, I'll never let go of anything. I just don't know how to allow myself to feel the pain of losing something. I know feeling things that hurt, will allow me to truly move on and grow from what I have experienced. I will move forward and become a more whole human being.